# Connecting Your Devices for Cycling

> To ride in Zwift, you'll need to connect at least one device that provides speed or power. You can also connect additional devices like resistance, cadence...

Source: https://support.zwift.com/en_us/connecting-your-devices-for-cycling-HJIFDrw5S

Last updated: 2026-09-23T20:12:46.352Z

# Connecting Your Devices for Cycling

To ride in Zwift, you'll need to connect at least one device that provides speed or power. You can also connect additional devices like resistance, cadence, controls, and heart rate.

If you've enabled background pairing and Zwift remembers your devices from your previous session, Zwift can skip the PAIRED DEVICES screen and take you directly to the Home Screen while your devices connect in the background.

## Connecting Your Devices

If the PAIRED DEVICES screen appears:

1.  On the **PAIRED DEVICES** screen, select **POWER SOURCE** or **SPEED SENSOR**.
    
    You need one of these to move in Zwift.
    
    *   **Power Source:** Use for smart trainers or power meters.
        
    *   **Speed Sensor:** Use for classic trainers with a speed sensor.
        
        Using a speed sensor? After connecting your sensor, verify your Tire Size setting matches your rear tire. See [Connecting a Speed Sensor](https://support.zwift.com/en_us/connecting-a-speed-sensor-ryZdj7beB).
        
2.  Select your device.
    
    Show image
    
    ![Trainer option on paired devices screen](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Cycling - Paired Devices Device Options 1.122.png "Select Your Device")
    
3.  Select **CLOSE** to continue.
    
4.  If prompted, confirm the pairing request.
    
5.  Select any additional connections you want to use (in any order):
    
    *   **RESISTANCE:** Connect your smart trainer to control resistance, including gradients and ERG mode during workouts.
        
    *   **CADENCE:** Connect a cadence sensor, or use cadence data from your trainer if available.
        
    *   **CONTROLS:** Connect devices like Zwift Click, Zwift Ride, or compatible steering accessories.
        
    *   **HEART RATE:** Connect a heart rate monitor that broadcasts via BLE or ANT+.
        
6.  Once you're all connected, select **OK** to continue.
    
    Show image
    
    ![Paired devices screen showing connections and OK highlighted](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Cycling - Paired Devices Connected OK 1.122.png "Select OK")
    

## Connecting Devices in the Background

If you've enabled background pairing and Zwift remembers your devices from your previous session, the PAIRED DEVICES screen is skipped, and you're taken to the Home Screen while Zwift connects your devices in the background.

A notification in the bottom-right corner of the Home Screen shows the connection status. If your previous devices aren't found, you'll see a connection incomplete message.

The PAIRED DEVICES screen will still appear when:

*   You switch sports from your previous session.
    

To open the PAIRED DEVICES screen from the Home Screen, select the connection icon in the upper-right corner.

The connection icon can't be selected using Zwift controllers or a TV remote.

### Pairing Options

From the PAIRED DEVICES screen, select PAIRING OPTIONS in the upper-left corner. From this menu, you can:

*   ENABLE COMPANION BRIDGING
    
*   ENABLE BACKGROUND PAIRING
    

To use background pairing with the Zwift Companion app, enable both ENABLE COMPANION BRIDGING and ENABLE BACKGROUND PAIRING.

## Using a Smart Trainer with a Separate Power Meter

If you're using both:

1.  Connect the trainer as your **POWER SOURCE**. This allows you to set your trainer as resistance and cadence.
    
2.  Connect the trainer as **RESISTANCE** and **CADENCE**.
    
3.  Connect the power meter as the **POWER SOURCE**.
    

## Things to Know

*   Devices that only broadcast ANT+ require a compatible ANT+ receiver to be detected and only appear in the All category.
    
*   To use virtual shifting, your trainer must connect over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (not ANT+). ANT+ can still be used for standard trainer control.
    
*   You can turn background pairing on or off from PAIRING OPTIONS on the PAIRED DEVICES screen.
    
*   If you've enabled background pairing, Zwift can connect to remembered devices in the background when you start Zwift.
    
*   Some devices may need to be woken up before they can connect. Pedaling your bike or activating your trainer or sensor may help make the device available to Zwift.
    
*   You'll see the best connection type under the Recommended category based on your setup. You can see all available connection types in the All category.
    
*   You can use the Zwift Companion app as a bridge if your computer doesn't have built-in BLE or you've reached the BLE connection limit on your device. BLE connection limits vary by device. Your phone and the device running Zwift must be on the same Wi-Fi network.
    

## Connection Icons

The following icons appear on the Paired Devices screen:

 

Icon

Description

![ANT+ Connection Icon](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Connection Icon - ANT.png "ANT+")

ANT+ connection.

![BLE Connection Icon](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Connection Icon - BLE.png "BLE")

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection.

![Trainer Bridge Connection Icon](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Connection Icon - Trainer Bridge.png "Trainer Bridge")

Trainer Bridge connection (when supported by your trainer).

![Wi-Fi Connection Icon](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Connection Icon - Wi-Fi.png "Wi-Fi")

LAN connection via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

![USB Connection Icon](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Connection Icon - USB.png "USB Connection")

USB connection (when supported by your trainer).

![ZC Connection Icon](https://content-cdn.zwift.com/support/EN/Cycling/Resources/Images/Connection Icon - ZC Bridge.png "Via Zwift Companion app")

Connection through the Zwift Companion app. Your phone and Zwift device must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

A caution symbol indicates the BLE receiver is off or the ANT+ dongle is unplugged.

## Troubleshooting

*   Close any other apps that may be connected to your devices, such as training or trainer apps, because they can block Zwift from detecting them.
    
*   Check whether additional Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices connected to your computer, phone, or Apple TV are preventing Zwift from being able to detect your devices. The maximum number of BLE connections varies by device.
    
*   If background pairing doesn't find your previous devices, open the PAIRED DEVICES screen from the connection icon on the Home Screen and pair your devices manually.
    

For more steps, see [Trainer Connection Issues](https://support.zwift.com/en_us/trainer-connection-issues-HkyqWXej6).

## Related Articles

*   [Using the Zwift Companion App as a Bridge](https://support.zwift.com/using-the-zwift-companion-app-as-a-bridge-ByAnUzlLj)
    
*   [Compatible Trainers](https://support.zwift.com/en_us/compatible-trainers-BkPlq7gr)
    
*   [Compatible Cycling Accessories](https://support.zwift.com/en_us/compatible-cycling-accessories-ryfy2ixY)
    
*   [ERG Mode in Workouts](https://support.zwift.com/en_us/erg-mode-in-workouts-SkQJC8OEH)
    
*   [Using Your Trainer as a Bridge](https://support.zwift.com/en_us/using-your-trainer-as-a-bridge-rJ1JwU6Ee)
    
*   [Virtual Shifting](https://support.zwift.com/virtual-shifting-faq-r16UiRFlT)
    
*   [Tire Size Conversion Chart](https://support.zwift.com/tire-size-conversion-chart-HyH6NiQckg)
    

Ride On.

\-The Team at Zwift